Dear Editor,

Is it right to assume that the more money spent in attending an event correlates to lack of enjoyment; and a no-entrance-fee concert means more enjoyment, or is it simply a reflection of the attitudes of the social class divides in Jamaica.

The diverse culture of a people merely divided by Torrington Bridge is evident simply by attending similar events at both ends of the geographical spectrum. Subtle hints by entertainers on stage give evidence to this divide.

When Agent Sasko sang Hand to mouth, those lyrics didn’t resonate as well with the Gold and Platinum patrons at the Shaggy and Friends concert as they did with the ‘Downtownites’.

Comedy duo Ity and Fancy Cat infused a little “ghetto we come from” humour in their stint on the recently held concert on Kingston’s waterfront. Ity referred to his uptown neighbour asking him for teabag, whilst if he were downtown, any herb-like bush would substitute for a hot beverage. The same duo made no such mention of that joke at Shaggy and Friends.

The emcee, herself, Miss Kitty adapted to her waterfront crowd as she kept the audience laughing at her antics, which would have been “ill-fitting” for her uptown crowd.

At the end of the night, the Kingston waterfront was reminiscent of New Year’s Eve with a colourfully lit skyline that sparkled from the fireworks. The line-up of artistes for the evening proved worthwhile of the significance of the event, with acts seen such as Jahcure, Damion “Jr Gong” Marley, Shaggy, among others.

The crowd at the waterfront was energetic and responsive; they certainly gave Tessanne a home-coming welcome. The free concert saw thousands coming out to celebrate the victory of our songstress. Tessanne was presented with a gold medal from Kingston Mayor Angela Brown Burke, a fitting gesture for her accomplishment.

This was my second sighting of Tessanne since her historic win of The Voice, my first was standing a few hundred metres away from her in the Silver section of the Shaggy and Friends show. All due respect to Shaggy and his friends, but I echo Chronixx’s sentiments, the “closer to the stage crowd” was less thrilled or “stiffer” than their farther from the stage counterparts, as was the entire audience downtown who rocked, sang aloud and danced to every artiste that performed. Probably this “stiffness” could be attributed to an abundance of delicacies and fine spirits that the various waiters handed out to patrons from their well-balanced trays, while the Silver patrons were made fit from the long lines they joined for the pricey refreshment.

Evaluating the cost disparity between a $25,000 and a $5000, it is justifiable that the contributor who holds a platinum ticket deserves all the frills that come along with it.

The line drawn between the sides of the socio-cultural boundary is so clearly defined that those belonging to the uptown group will never venture downtown for an event. This line only gets blurred when someone achieves a great feat internationally, bringing factions that would not have otherwise come together to celebrate as a whole.

I say thanks to Tessanne for bringing this little island of ours together. As we bask in this positive achievement, let us hope for more such unifying feats.

Ruth-Ann Grindley

Kingston